Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Norsworthy
Hi Rachel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story began with two friends, Rachel and Jessica, who were passionate about creating things. Whether it be arts, crafts, clothing, or food, we truly love making something from scratch and the joy it brings to others. It all began at Christmas in 2019 when Jessica had the brilliant idea to make bath bombs to give as presents to family and friends. They were a spectacular failure, but we loved the process so much that we were determined to master it. After successfully honing our recipe, several friends suggested that we start a business selling bath bombs and other bath and body products, which led to the creation of BB Goods in March 2020.
We started with a small line of products, primarily soaps, bath bombs, and lotions, and have grown that into a full line of products that encompass all aspects of the body and self-care. We aim to create all-natural products without sacrificing functionality, beauty, or affordability. Creating this business that we are passionate about has been an incredible journey, and we love sharing our products and passions with our community through local markets and events.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Our most significant and most obvious challenge was the timing of when we chose to start a business. After being repeatedly told, “You could sell these!” by friends and family, we dove in first and began ordering supplies, packaging, and everything else we would need to get started. We officially founded BB Goods in early March of 2020, eager to hit the ground running with the development process of creating a line of products, setting up a website, and registering for local markets and events. A few weeks later, Covid hit and shut everything down, forcing us to take a step back, reevaluate our plans, and figure out how to move forward with a new business during a worldwide pandemic. Ultimately, it was a blessing in disguise because it made us slow down and take our time through this process. We learned very quickly that we needed to do a lot more research and development if we were going to create a line of quality products that we could genuinely be proud of. On top of the struggles of starting a new business during such crazy circumstances, I also taught full-time. Jessica was navigating e-learning/homeschooling with her four children. We had to hone our time management skills and figure out a process to work with our busy schedules. We did our first market in August 2020 and have yet to look back!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
My background is in art education, and I taught high school art for 11 years before deciding to stay home with my daughter in 2022. I have always had a passion for everything artsy and creative, and I enjoyed that time in my career and sharing that love with my students. BB Goods has been a creative outlet for me from the beginning, allowing me to channel my visual talents into the many duties required of a small business owner while also challenging me to grow my design skills. My primary roles in BB Goods are package design, website design, product photography, and social media management. I certainly am no expert in any of these areas, but I have learned a lot throughout this process, and I am so proud of this business and the products we have created. My partner Jessica is an exceptionally talented mother of 4, doula, bookkeeper, homemaker, baker, event planner, gardener, seamstress, and lover of all things handcrafted. She has the unique ability to visualize a project and know exactly how to make it happen from start to finish. She is incredibly organized, determined, and selfless, and those of us who know her are in constant awe of her ability to juggle so many things with such grace. We learned very early on that our skills were very complementary to running our type of business. Jess handles all things related to product/recipe development, scheduling, bookkeeping, and logistics, and I handle all things creative and visual. We make a perfect team, and I am so thankful for her friendship and partnership during this crazy endeavor.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons we learned throughout this process and the timing of starting a business during Covid was to take the time to do it right. We live in a world of instant gratification that demands so much of us, but you must take your time creating something you can be proud of from scratch. When we decide to add a new product to our line, we take months to research, develop a formula, design the packaging, and keep the customer in mind throughout the process. We want our products to be functional, beautiful, affordable, and made with quality, natural ingredients, and that doesn’t happen quickly or by accident. Sometimes, we could cut corners to speed up the process, but that goes against everything we stand for and the reasons why we started this business in the first place. Our mission is to bring luxury to all, help spread self-love, and make the world smell better.
Pricing:
- Bath Bombs and Shower Melts $7
- Lip Balm $6
- Face Oil and Serums $20-22
- Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion Bars $8-14
- Body Oils and Butters $28
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopbbgoods.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopbbgoods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopbbgoods
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopbbgoods?lang=en
